How the math works
In 2021 Mars Wrigley and Shipt published a candy formula: (T × K × G) + (D × F × S). T is the hours your light is on, K is kids per hour, G is pieces per kid. D is days between buying and Halloween, F is people in the house, S is how many pieces each of them eats a day. Divide by 30 for bags, and by 1.5 if rain is forecast. Read the Mars Wrigley and Shipt release.
The 30-pieces-per-bag step is the weak link: almost no Halloween bag holds 30, so the calculator divides by the count on the bag you actually buy. If you counted last year, that number replaces T × K. Rain divides the trick-or-treaters only, not the household snacking. There is no weekend adjustment; the guide explains why.
The teal bowl
FARE's Teal Pumpkin Project asks houses to offer non-food treats for kids with food allergies, kept in a separate bowl from the candy. About the Teal Pumpkin Project.
Keep going
- How much Halloween candy to buy: the long version, with the reasoning behind each input.
- Best Halloween candy: what to fill the bowl with, from bulk bags to full-size bars.
- Free printable treat bag tags: twelve gothic tags for favor bags.
- Free printable candy bar labels: wrappers that turn a box of full-size bars into party favors.
- What Halloween candy are you? A quiz for while the bags arrive.
